Belt-hole guard.



A. D. MORSE.

BELT HOLE GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 19x5.

1 ,1 98,746. Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Main 683. Inverztor:

UNITED STATES annnnw'n. MORSE, or sourn FRAM'INGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS;

(BELT-HOLE GUARD.

Application filed July 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW D. Monsn, a citizen of the United States, residing at South F ramingham, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Belt-Hole Guards, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention is an improvement in the covers, casings, or curbs, known sometimes as belt-hole guards, which are applied to the doors of buildings in connection with holes through which driving belts or bands of machinery stretch from one story to another .above or below, and which are designedto protect such holes and close them more or less completely while leaving passageway for the belts or bands.

The invention provides a belt-hole guard having one or two cover-portions relatively adjustable so as to enable the lips of the opening or mouth occupied by the belt orband to be spaced at the right distance apart. The adjustability provides for locating either or both of the said lips as close as may be desired to the belt or band. It provides for enabling the position of the lips and opening or mouth to be varied to suit that of the portion of belt or band which occupies the belt-hole.

A feature of the invention is a belt-hole guard composed of sheet-metal. 1

An illustrative embodiment of the invention, containing in one structure the features to which reference has just been made, is represented in the drawings, which is an isometric view of the said embodiment and portion of a belt or band a which stretches through the guard.

The said embodiment consists of a belthole guard made of sheet-metal and comprising a foot or flange 1, a shell-like bodv 2, and opposite cover-portions 3, 3, the said cover-portions having rolled lips 4, 4:, at their free margins at opposite sides of the opening or mouth for the belt or band, and end-wings 5, 5, at their opposite ends. The foot or flange 1 extends around the base of the shell-like body 2and stands out therefrom, and is adapted to-be placed upon or against the surface of the floor, wall, or casing in which is made the belt-hole that is to be covered and protected. The fastenings by which the guard is fixed in place will e11- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept.,19-, 1916.

1915. Serial No. 38,559.

gage usually with the said foot or flange. The length of the shell-like body between its ends is suitable to accommodate the width of the belt or band with which-the guard used. The height to which the said body extends above the foot or flange is suiiicient to meet the general requirements, as for instance to prevent water or dirt upon the floor from entering the opening or mouth of the guard, as well as to prevent dirt from being swept upon the top of the guard and into the said opening or mouth. The two sides of the body which are parallel with the transverse surfaces of the belt are at a suitable distance from each other to allow for a reasonable range of variations in the position of the belt or band between them. The two cover-portions 3, 3, are connected with the upper-portions of the said two sides of the body, and project inward therefrom to ward each other, with their lips approached more or less closely to the surface of the belt or band a which stretches through the belt-holerand the body of the guard and through the mouth or passage between the said lips. The lips are made rounded by rolling the margins of the cover-portions upon themselves so as to provide smooth surfaces for contact with the belt or band. Each cover-portion is provided with an endwing 5 at each end thereof. Each end-wing extends at an angle from the corresponding end of a cover-portion, close alongside an end-wall of the body, and overlapping said end-wall. The two end-wings at either end of the body also overlap more or less with each other across the adjacent edge of the belt or band. They close the space above the tops of the ends of the body, at opposite ends of the cover-portions. Being flexibly combined with the body 2, the cover-portions may be adjusted by bending them so as to locate their lips and the opening or mouth'between them in the desired position of the belt or band. The end-wings 5, 5, close the guard at opposite ends of the body and cover-portions in all. positions of adjustment of the co'venportions, by overlapping with the end-walls of the body and with each other. The flexibility of the cove portions secures the same results as hinging, which is an equivalent mode of providing for the adjustments.

My belt-hole guard attains all the ends ordinarily required of belt-hole guards, and in addition secures results and has advantagcs of its own. Thus, in 82.38 of fire, it will prevent flames from going through the belthole, thereby eliminating the chief objection to belting machinery through the floors of buildings. The floor may be flooded, in case of fire or accident, to a depth of three inches or more, according to the height of the body 2, without water running through the belthole. Dirt, sawdust, tools, etc, are preven ed from dropping through the belt-hole into the room below. Dust is prevented from being drawn through the belt-hole by a current of air caused by the belt. Oil, etc, thrown from the belt is caught, whereby neatness around the belt-holesis prose ved. Heat is prevented from passing from a lower floor to an upper floor through the belthole. The lips prevent the belt from The guard takes up very little room, and w hen made of sheet-metal is light in weight. The size of the mouth or open ing for the belt can be changed while the guard is in use. In case the guard is made of sheet-metal, if the guard is accidentally struck, it will not break as in the case of a cast-iron guard.

The construction and relative proportions may be varied in practice. Guards embodying certain of the characteristics of the invention need not necessarily be made of sheet-metal. In some cases is ie desired rela tive adjustment and results may be secured by adjustment of one cover-portion and its lip. lVhc-n the guard is furnished with two flexible cover-portions of the construction herein illustrated, the said cover-portions are independently adjustable.

I claim as my invention 1. A belt-hole guard having cover-portions provided with lips and relatively adjustable transversely to enable said lips to be spaced at the rignt distance apart to give an opening or month between them of the desirec width for the belt or band occupying the said opening or mouth.

2. A belt-hole guard hating cover-portions provided with lips and independently adjustable toward and from each other to enable said; lips to be located at the desired distance relativeto each other and to the re spective surfaces or". the belt or band occupying the space between such lips.

as A belt-hole guard comprising a shell like body and a cover-portion which is tie ibly combined with the said body and. ad ed to be adjusted to enable the width of the opening or mouth for the belt or band to adjusted.

i. A belt-hole guard having lips which are adjustable transversely relative to the belthole to enable the position of the opening or month between them to be adjusted to that or the belt or band occupying the said. opening or mouth.

5. A. belt-hole guard comprising ashelllilce body and opposite cover-portions which respectively are flexibly combined with the said body and adapted to be adjusted relative to each other to adjust the width and position of the mouth or opening to be justed.

6. A belt-hole guard comprising a shell-- like body and a cover-portion which is fienibly combined with the said body and adapted to be adjusted to enable the width of the opening or mouth occupied by the belt or band to be adjustechthe said parts made of sheet-metal and integral with each other.

7. A belt-hole guard made of sheet-metal and comprising a shell-like body and opposite cover-portions which respectively are flexibly combined with the said body and adapted to be adjusted relative to each other to vary the width and position of the opening or mouth occupied by the belt or band.

I 8. A belt-hole guard having the lips at its opening or mouth for the belt or band formed of sheet-metal rolled upon itself a provide rounded surfaces for cont-act w. c. the belt or band.

9. A. belt-hole guard made of sheet-metal and comprising a. shelllike body and a cover-portion which is flexibly combined with the said body, adjustable to enable the width of the opening or mouth for the belt or band to be varied, and provided with a lip formed by rolling the margin of said cover-portion. upon itself.

10. A belt-hole guard made of sheetaneal and comprising a shell-like body and o'pno site cover-portions flexibly combined iivitn. the said body and adjustable to adjust the mouth occupied by the belt or band, the said cover-portions having rounded lips formed by rolling the sheet-metal upon itself at the margins of the cover-portions.

iii. A. belt-hole guard comprising a. shelllilre body and a cover-portionwhich is flexibly combined with the said body and adjustable to adjust the mouth occupied by the belt or band, the said cover-portion having end-wings overlapping with the body to close the spaces at the ends of the latter.

12. A belt-hole guard comprising a shelllike body and opposite cover-portions time ibly combined with the said body and adustable to ad ust the mouth occupied by'the beltor band, the sa d cover portions having end-wings overlapping with the body to with the body-ends and with each other and close the spaces at the ends of the latter. closing the spaces at the ends of the body. 10

13. A belt-hole guard comprising a shell- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature like body and opposite cover-portions flexin presence of two witnesses,

5 ibly combined with the sides of said body ANDREW D. MORSE.

and adjustable to'adjust the mouth occupied Witnesses: by the belt or band, the said cover-portions WALTER S. Frron,

respectively having end-wings overlapping ARTHUR E. Luce. 

